How Are Fibreglass Cracks and Breaks Repaired?

Cracks in fibreglass boats range from cosmetic to structural. A proper repair starts with reading the type of crack correctly.

Types of crack

• Spider cracks: fine, web-like surface cracks in the gelcoat. Usually cosmetic but can hint at a hidden impact.
• Stress cracks: form under repeated stress at loaded areas (around deck hardware).
• Structural breaks and holes: laminate damage from impact; carry a risk of water ingress.

Repair steps

• Assessment: determine whether the crack is superficial or reaches the laminate.
• Opening and cleaning: the crack is opened back to sound material (a V or U groove).
• Lamination: for structural damage, glass fibre and resin build up layer by layer.
• Filling and sanding: the surface is faired with epoxy filler.
• Surface finish: gelcoat or paint restores a near-original finish.

Is a cosmetic repair enough?

Simply filling the gelcoat isn't a solution if there's a structural problem beneath; the crack returns. So the cause must be understood first.

To identify the type of crack and the right solution, we do a free survey under our fibreglass repair service.